While tattooing has been a practice across many cultures throughout history, it wasn’t until industrialization in the US that its proliferation spread across the country. Part of that boom can be attributed to the practice of walk-in tattoos.

Got an upcoming trip to the Front Range? A tattoo in Denver can make a great memory for the occasion, but there are a few considerations you should make when you’re getting a tattoo on vacation. Follow these tips to ensure you have a great time and keep your tattoo looking fresh.

White collar jobs have long been associated with an image lacking tattoos, like a J. Crew ad, where individuals are well-dressed, groomed, and their skin is as empty as the sky on a clear day. But times are changing, and there are increasingly more jobs that accept tattoos. Doctors, lawyers, accountants, IT specialists, realtors— you name the profession, you can find someone with stellar ink.

So you’ve just got fresh ink and now you’re wondering about tattoo aftercare. You may have many questions. How do I clean my tattoo? What lotion should I use? When will I be cool? Healing a tattoo properly comes down to a cocktail of self-love, patience, consistency, and the occasional willpower to resist an itch.

Choosing your first tattoo can come with a lot of questions. Even if you routinely get tattooed, you might not be entirely sure what you want next, but you know you want something. If you’re feeling the call of the needle again, here’s our advice to make sure you get a tattoo that will leave you stoked.